(Washington, DC) Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption and abuse, said today that it filed a formal complaint with President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Attorney General John Ashcroft, Treasury Secretary Paul H. ONeill and the Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) to revoke the license granted to PWN Exhibicon to conduct a U.S. Food & Agribusiness Exhibition, in Havana, Cuba from September 26  September 30, 2002.

Cuba is a U.S. State Department-designated state sponsor of terrorism. Since the September 11th attacks, Fidel Castro labeled the US-led war on terrorism "worse than the original attacks, militaristic, and fascist." During a 2001 tour of Iran, Syria and Libya, Castro was quoted by many of the worlds media outlets as saying: Iran and Cuba, in cooperation with each other, can bring America to its knees. The U.S. regime is very week and we are witnessing this weakness from close up. Cuba continues to actively support terror groups, including the Basque ETA, Colombias FARC and ELN, as well as Northern Irelands Sinn Fein.

The planned U.S. Food & Agribusiness Exhibition, in Havana is a frivolous and harmful promotional event. The U.S. governments active endorsement and licensure of such activity, by U.S. corporations, in the capital of a terror state, during a time of war, is inconsistent foreign and trade policy  as well as prime propaganda fodder for Castro and his terrorist allies.

Expo participants reportedly include major U.S. agribusiness corporations, including: Archer Daniels Midland, Perdue Farms, Cargill, Hormel, and Tyson Foods, among others. According to 1998 campaign figures, agribusiness interests dispensed nearly $43.3 million to federal candidates and parties. Both Republicans and Democrats cater to agribusiness corporations seeking ways to circumvent the Cuban embargo. This may explain how the Clinton administrations Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000, is allowed to take precedence over the Bush administrations war on terror.

Its bad enough that the Bush administration licensed this trade expo in the first place, but if it now chooses not to revoke the license, then their hypocrisy on terrorism will be a national disgrace, stated Judicial Watch Chairman and General Counsel Larry Klayman. >> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ FROM RCB RECORDS: Show organizer PWN Exhibicon International LLC (PWN Exhibicon) has received authorization from the United States government to conduct this event. E.J. Krause & Associates, Inc. will be responsible for the marketing and operations of the exhibition.

Representatives of government-operated companies and non-government-operated companies that have offices in Cuba will be attending the U.S. Food & Agribusiness Exhibition, including Alimport, Cuba's primary purchaser of food and agricultural products. According to Pedro Alvarez Borrego, Chairman, Alimport is looking to identify " millions of U.S. dollars in new purchases ," and finalize transactions since " many of the contracts for these new purchases will be signed during the exhibition..."

COMMENTS: Take a good look at the participants. The U.S has not lifted sanctions on Cuba, and these companies are already doing business at the expense of the Cuban and American people. Oh yes, it is going to cost us plenty! Government subsidies are paid by no other than the taxpayer! Tell your Gov. Representatives that you do not want these filthy game of politics !!! Chachi Novellas Bengochea Fort Lauderdale, Florida FOR FREEDOM & JUSTICE GROUP http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ForFreedomandJustice

The U.S has not lifted sanctions on Cuba, and these companies are already doing business at the expense of the Cuban and American people.

They may not have lifted sanctions as you see it but

When the Agriculture Appropriations bill was considered by the conference committee last September (2000), the leadership proposed a so-called compromise that was, ultimately, accepted by members of the conference committee. However, this compromise was so restrictive that it is unlikely that the Cuban people will benefit in any way from increased sales of food and medicine.

Under the terms of the compromise, sales of food and medicine to Cuba (in contrast to sales to North Korea, Iran, Sudan and Libya) have to be made on a cash-only basis, that is, without U.S. government financing.

The planned "U.S. Food & Agribusiness Exhibition," in Havana is a frivolous and harmful promotional event. The U.S. government's active endorsement and licensure of such activity, by U.S. corporations, in the capital of a terror state, during a time of war, is inconsistent foreign and trade policy  as well as prime propaganda fodder for Castro and his terrorist allies.
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***The planned "U.S. Food & Agribusiness Exhibition," in Havana is a frivolous and harmful promotional event. The U.S. government's active endorsement and licensure of such activity, by U.S. corporations, in the capital of a terror state, during a time of war, is inconsistent foreign and trade policy  as well as prime propaganda fodder for Castro and his terrorist allies.
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Can you refute this soundbyte? ****

tpaine......I don't HAVE to refute this statement. It was made by Klayman. He needs to PROVE the assertion. Remember, just recently, the guy who asserted that the moon landing was bogus? The one who took a poke at Aldrin? I don't have to refute HIS assertions either. It is incumbent on him to prove his own assertions.

When you take a defensive position on a statement made by a fool, you have already lost.

Additionally.....this is NOT a soundbyte...it is the typical boilerplate JW press release. Would you expect it to be unbiased?

As to your question as to whether I am a huckster...nope. Just know how to accurately evaluate a press release.

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